Our History

Founder Matthew Armstrong stands at the entrance to Imlaw and Armstrong Undertakers in Belleville.

Matthew F. Armstrong started in the funeral business in Fergus, Ontario around 1898. He operated a furniture store in the front of the shop and built coffins in the rear. All funerals in those days where conducted in the family home. When a death occurred Matthew would hitch up his team of black horses to the wagon and travel to the deceased's home. There he would prepare the body, place it in a coffin and set the remains up in the parlour for visitation and funeral service.

In 1914, he left Fergus and moved to Belleville, Ontario where he and a partner started the Imlaw-Armstrong Undertakers. Matthew arrived in Oshawa in 1930 and on June 1st of that year bought the Disney Funeral Home. It was at this time that he asked his son Army to join him in the family business.

The former entrance of the current 124 King Street East location, circa 1936.

In 1936 they moved the business to its present location at 124 King St. East.

As owner/operator of Armstrong's, Army served his community well both professionally and with his volunteer work. He was president of the Children's Aid Society and was a member of the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club where he served as their president in 1963. He was also a member and served as the president of the Oshawa Curling Club and the Oshawa Tennis Club. A long-standing member of the Oshawa Rotary Club, he received the 45 years service award. One form of recognition of Army's oustanding community contributions came in 1992 when he was inducted into the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame as a builder, tennis player and hockey referee.

Army and Robert with the firm's first Cadillac, 1974

Robert J. Armstrong joined his father in the family business in 1961 and became a licensed funeral director in 1974. Army died in 1979 and his son Robert took over as president of the company, a position he still holds today. Robert participated in volunteer work with United Way and Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, where he sat on different committees. He was also a director of Victorian Order of Nurses. He is also a member of the Oshawa Rotary Club.

In funeral service, Robert served as President of the Bay of Quinte Funeral Service Association 1984-1985, Director for Metropolitan Toronto & District Funeral Directors Association 1988, Director and Secretary of Guaranteed Funeral Deposits of Ontario 1990, President of Ontario Funeral Service Association 1988-1989, and was the State/Provincial Chairman in 1990 for the International Order of the Golden Rule, receiving an award as the best state/provincial chairman out of all the other states and provinces.

Third and Fourth Generations: Robert and Debbie proudly continue the Armstrong way of caring and compassion.

Debbie Armstrong, representing the 4th generation of Armstrongs to run the family business, has joined the firm and is currently Managing Director. Debbie was licensed in 1990 after completing her Diploma in Funeral Service Education through Humber College.

Debbie also applies time and effort to many community organizations. She has been a member of the Oshawa Rotary Club since 1996, serving on several committees; was Chair of Major & Special Gifts for the Parkwood Estate 4.6 million dollar Now & Forever Fundraising Campaign and their Gala Committee; was a Director on the Board of the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce; and assisted with the Fundraising Committee of the Oshawa General Hospital Foundation Keeping the Pace Annual Campaign.

As well as local involvement, Debbie is active in the funeral industry as a Director on the Board of Guaranteed Funeral Deposits of Canada (a provincial Fraternal Trust Organization managing 160 million dollars in prefinanced funeral funds), was Chair of the Promotions Committee and served as President for a two year term. Debbie's efforts have not gone unnoticed, as she was nominated in 2001 for a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award.